The importance of HbA2 test to detect haemoglobin disorder took centre stage at a national-level conference on ‘Prevention of Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anemia’ with Health Minister T. Harish Rao stressing the importance of conducting such tests.
At the event inaugurated by the Minister here on Saturday, members of Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Society (TSCS) requested the State and Central governments to issue orders making HbA2 a mandatory antenatal test for all women in the first trimester of their pregnancy. Mr Harish Rao also said that the test should be conducted in advance and that children should not suffer from genetic diseases. Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder.
The conference was attended by members of thalassemia societies and delegates from across 23 states of India. It was a platform to discuss the strategies and innovative steps for prevention of thalassemia and sickle cell anemia.